by Rodney Smith
* * * * *
The heavy K’Rang task force was pressing hard to find the path to Barataria. At half FTL speed, they blew through autonomous minefields designed for vessels traveling at much slower speeds. Even the F-48s had trouble getting into firing positions on them. Two Undefeated class cutters managed to take out a fighter defense frigate that got too far out on the flank of the formation, but the ships kept leaking through. Finally the two A-76 squadrons got in front of the formation and let loose all 288 missiles. That slowed down the task force as the Shadow Force destroyer’s defensive capability was overloaded and it ran out of defensive missiles before the A-76’s ran out of offensive missiles. The formation lost all cohesion as the following ships swerved in all directions to avoid the burning hulk of the destroyer, suddenly slowing to a stop from the multiple missile strikes. They quickly reformed though and pressed on.
Fleet Commander J’Kalt still had the sensors of the Shadow Force heavy cruiser. He pushed his small force to move ever forward to the source of the electronic signature of a Human world that was growing stronger as they moved forward.
* * * * *
Admiral Minacci had an idea. He had standard dumb mines in his supply ship. These were proximity mines and didn’t care what speed you were going. They just stood in your way and blew up when you hit them. He called Captain Chang and gave him some interesting orders. In two hours, he had accomplished his mission.
* * * * *
The light task force was moving slower, but having the same bad luck. The mines were causing them problems, but they had some luck blasting through them. The torpedoes were more of a problem. Their defensive missiles were running out, but the torpedo ships kept coming. The two fighter defense frigates had only enough missiles for one more salvo of torpedoes. After that, they had only guns to ward off the torpedoes. Captain H’Rak pushed forward as best he could.
At the next junction in the gravity maze, he saw something new. A different type of mine he’d not seen before was arrayed in large numbers across their path. H’Rak knew it was a trap, but had yet to decide how to proceed when the remaining gun frigate called, frantically saying that a torpedo squadron just appeared behind them and was advancing rapidly. H’Rak turned the task force to the right down the clear path. H’Rak knew he was being herded, but had no other option.
* * * * *
J’Kalt saw a similar sight in his path. Large mines, as yet unseen in this battle, appeared in their path, closing off the path going straight ahead. A-76’s appeared behind them and unleashed 144 missiles. J’Kalt increased speed and took the path to the left. The fighter defense frigate took down all the missiles with guns and defensive missiles, but he was now down to one half of one missile pod, not enough for another massed attack. J’Kalt did not have long to wait.
A squadron of the torpedo ships appeared on his port quarter. He had seen this attack profile before and turned his guns to face the threat. The torpedo ships flew into max range for their torpedoes, fired off a salvo, and turned away before they came into missile range. He looked over the sensor operator’s shoulder and saw the torpedo ships release their torpedoes, the same as every other time. The only anomaly was that there were fewer torpedoes this time. They must be running low. Good!
* * * * *
Squadron Commander Leon George led his four Scylla straight at the heavy cruiser. They flew in and amongst the 48 torpedoes launched by the eight Charybdis. The defensive fire from the K’Rang ships had not started yet. They must be running low on missiles.
As they approached, the cruiser opened fire. Plasma bursts and particle beams reached out and attempted to hit the torpedoes. Every third shot, it seemed, hit one of the torpedoes and set them off. Leon calmed his three other pilots and had them fall back slightly. He saw defensive missiles leave the pods on the defensive frigate. As the missiles homed in on the torpedoes ahead of them, Leon called out, “Let’s go,” and pushed his throttle to the stop. The four Scylla formed up into two-ship formations as they dropped down below the cloud of remaining torpedoes, and surged forward toward the heavy cruiser. The defensive missiles flew over them after the torpedoes. They were now in between the defensive missiles and the cruiser. All he had to do was to survive for half the remaining distance to the cruiser.
Leon’s sensors saw guns on the cruiser start to move to point in his direction. He called to his flight to go evasive. The four ships executed a complicated set of dives, climbs, and rolls, complicating the gun director’s job to the point of impossibility. Unable to fire directly on the torpedo ships, the K’Rang switched to area bombardment. This was only slightly more effective.
Almost to the release point, Leon gave a five second countdown and ordered his ships to fire, after which they were released to get back to base as best they could. Sixteen torpedoes streaked toward the cruiser. These were souped-up torpedoes, faster than normal torpedoes by a factor of four. The torpedo ships broke in all directions and increased speed to clear the area before the K’Rang got their range. Leon looped back to the way he had come, to watch the effect of the torpedoes.
The torpedoes sped toward the cruiser. The cruiser’s close in defense system took out eight, but the other four sped on. Two torpedoes hit the heavy cruiser behind the bridge and took out the rear facing guns and rear missile bay. Two torpedoes went high and missed the heavy cruiser, but hit the light cruiser just below the bridge and in the bow. The light cruiser split into several pieces and tumbled through space. The remaining three torpedoes from the initial salvo plowed into the burning hulk of the light cruiser.
* * * * *
J’Kalt picked himself up off the deck. He took over the nearest sensor monitor and scanned for any further attacks. He saw only the retreating torpedo ships. So, the Humans still have tricks to play. So did he.
J’Kalt called the captain to get a damage report. The aft gun turret was destroyed, as was the aft missile pod. There were no missiles, so that was no loss. Ten crewmen in the aft turret control center lost their lives in the explosion. Considering it could have been worse, those were acceptable losses.
Now J’Kalt had to determine what trap the Humans were up to, directing their path as they were. He knew it would not be in their best interests, and he needed to figure it out sooner rather than later.
* * * * *
Captain Alden had some difficulty reforming his fleet. Many of the captains felt their mission was over when Fleet rescued Mrs. Debran. He reminded them they hadn’t yet been paid and they still were under contract to Mr. Debran. 26 ships rendezvoused with him at the entrance to the star cluster and followed him in. He thought to himself, “How could they be finished when their four operatives were still on the surface?”
They approached Barataria carefully and called for planet clearance long before they came into defense system range. At first the Baratarian controller told them to go away, they had entered a war zone. Alden told them he had 26 warships and four fighters to add to their defense, courtesy of Mr. Friedrich Debran, and their tone changed dramatically.
Maynard himself came on the circuit and granted them permission to enter planet orbit and did they need to land. Captain Alden said they did as some of their ships lacked true living quarters. Maynard turned them back over to the controller and thanked them for their timely appearance. The controller guided them into Lafitte City’s spaceport where four operatives, alerted by coded transmission, awaited a ride off planet.
As the controller gave them landing instructions, Maynard was in communication with Admiral Minacci, giving him the good news. Minacci was pleased and asked Maynard to have this Captain Alden give him his capabilities and ordnance requirements as soon as possible. Minacci reflected that he now had a reserve force at just the right moment. He sent out a general recall message to all forces, but the Vigilant, to form up at Barataria and prepare for their final defense of the planet. The Vigilant was to maintain contact with the two K’Rang task forces.
* * * * *
Fleet Commander J’Kalt, speeding forward down the gravity tunnel, came to the realization that the sensors on his flagship were more sensitive than those on the two Shadow Force destroyers had been. He could see branches off the tunnel that must have been invisible to the destroyers. When he compared their sensor record to his, the cruiser’s sensors were more than two times more sensitive. He could see multiple paths out to what must be the main passage. He was about to turn that to his advantage. First, he had to have Captain H’Rak’s force to join with his.
After an hour, the light task force came in range of the heavy cruiser’s sensors. J’Kalt had them guided in to rejoin his formation. They adopted an all-around defensive posture. J’Kalt took stock of their logistics needs and cross-leveled ammunition through the remaining fleet.
When he took stock of his situation at the end of resupply, he saw that he had enough defensive missiles for three Human heavy salvoes. It would have to be enough. His cruiser and the remaining destroyers had enough heavy missiles to do some major damage to the Human fleet, whatever its consist. If it was the assault landing fleet the spies had reported on, he had more than enough. He discounted the dispersed minor combatants as not much of a concern, feeling he could deal with them if they appeared.
He realized they had been at battle stations for 36 hours. He noticed his captains were slurring their words and slow to respond. He held his fleet in defensive posture long enough to rest his crews and get some hot food into them. No need to stumble into battle with a fuzzy head. The final battle would wait for some rest.
* * * * *
Kelly reported the extended halt of the K’Rang fleet and suggested to the Admiral that they probably needed some rest. Over 36 hours of combat would reduce any crew’s combat effectiveness. He had been changing watches on the Vigilant as they moved from overwatch position to overwatch position, shadowing the K’Rang fleet. It was relatively low risk and kept his crew fresh. Kelly assumed most captains had done the same.
Kelly retired from the bridge to his ready room and called up the gravimetric plot for this sector. Kelly assessed the K’Rang commander stopped here for a reason. He always assumed he might have missed something and now he resolved to find out what it might be. He examined the sensor data and could see little to suggest the K’Rang’s intentions until he turned up the gain on his gravimetric analyzer. Five as yet undiscovered gravity tunnels appeared around the space the K’Rang fleet occupied, like spokes on a wheel.
Kelly had made a mistake. Immediately behind the K’Rang fleet was a tunnel leading directly into the main passage to Barataria and thence the exit into GR space. Kelly got on the communicator to the Admiral to inform him.
Admiral Minacci was concerned, but not alarmed. He knew he was taking a chance when he had asked the Vigilant to do a quick survey. The Vigilant had light years of space to survey in a very short time. Of course they were going to miss some detail. Minacci had the Leviathan laying mines in preparation for the defense of Barataria. He added higher priority to some additional fields in their tasking and was done with it.
He thought a bit about the Vigilant’s young captain. He was impressed with him. He had yet to not accomplish a mission. His actions against the K’Rang scouts probably saved the 3rd ALG’s bacon. If the combat power in this K’Rang fleet had come in with knowledge of the gravity tunnels and of Barataria, he’d be the one stopped and licking his wounds with only half his force, or worse. He would have to see what he could do for LCDR Blake, if they all survived this.
Now, it wouldn’t do to let the K’Rang get too rested. As soon as the mines were laid, impeding the shortest gravity tunnel to the main passage, he sent in some sortie orders for the fighters, attack ships, and torpedo ships. There was no use in letting the K’Rang get too much shuteye.
* * * * *
Sally had finished the evening meal and sat down with Russell to eat. The two of them ate quietly, absorbed in their own thoughts. A palpable fear had settle over the camp. Rumors had been flying through the encampment all day. The K’Rang were in orbit! Fleet reinforcements had arrived! The K’Rang had landed and were advancing on the camp!
That last one by a screaming hysterical woman in the dinner line caused Sally to leave the kitchen and slap the nonsense out of her. It brought her to her senses, and Sally wound up holding her in her arms while the woman had a good cry.
Russell got up from his seat and came over to her side. She had been wool gathering, thinking about that hysterical woman, and didn’t realize he had moved. She looked over, saw him and jumped sideways.
“Russell, shuffle your feet when you move around like that. You almost scared me out of a year of my life.”
Russell didn’t say a word. He just knelt down beside her and took her hand. Sally realized what was about to happen and her eyes got all misty.
With only a little quaver in his voice, Russell held up a ring, and said, “Sally Halstead, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
People all around them noticed what was going on and a hush came over the dining hall. People looked on as if they were all holding their breath.
Sally burst into full-on tears, grabbed Russell about the neck and shouted, “Yes!” The dining hall erupted into cheers and applause. People lined up to shake their hands, hug, and congratulate them. The pent up fear and frustration evaporated as people had something positive to focus on.
When the felicitations died down, Sally asked, “Where did you get this ring, it’s beautiful?”
“One-Eyed Pete gave it to me as a going away present. He said our relationship was the most poorly kept secret he’d ever known.”
Sally looked up into Russell’s eyes. “I don’t want to leave. I want to stay here and continue to work at the Ruin View. It’s still the best restaurant on the planet and how many chefs can put that on their resume? I’m sure Pete really doesn’t want us to leave. What say we negotiate a better deal with him and stay on here? I bet this planet will be booming now that it’s out in the open. I heard they’ve negotiated a land agency deal to bring in settlers. Of course, those pesky K’Rang will have to be dealt with first.”
“Sounds good to me. If we could be happy as captives, we should be able to be happy as free members of the Brotherhood.”
* * * * *
Fleet Commander J’Kalt calculated that he had only enough defensive missiles for one more attack and he would have expended all his defensive missiles. The Human fighters, attack craft, and torpedo ships had harassed them for the last four hours. His missiles had saved all but one destroyer that took two torpedoes forward of the bridge, and the resulting ammunition magazine explosion broke the ship apart. His crews were getting more tired and he saw simple mistakes being made that could be disastrous in the wrong situation.
As the Humans were not going to let them rest, he ordered his fleet to move toward the Human base that his sensors indicated was nearby. He avoided the shortest path to the adjacent wide pathway, fearing it to be mined, and chose the next closest. His fleet formed up and closed up to transit the narrow gravity tunnel. When they emerged into the larger passage they spread out, making themselves less vulnerable to fighter attacks.
J’Kalt had his first long range sensor view of the Human base. It was a planet. J’Kalt was amazed that Humans, or any species could exist in this star cluster. It was a medium-sized world with a single moon. J’Kalt wondered if he had sufficient force to expel the Humans and claim this world for the K’Rang. That would put some profit to this expensive expedition. J’Kalt put his efforts to defeating the Human fleet, and saved his dreams of conquest for later.
Chapter Eighteen
Admiral Minacci viewed the entirety of the K’Rang fleet arrayed in the free space before Barataria. Now the advantage shifted to the K’Rang. He had one more trap to spring, then the battle would devolve into a slugfest, one he was ill suited to win.
The massed fighters, attack craft, and torpedo ships flew at the K’Rang left flank. They
launched 48 medium missiles from the F-48s first and peeled off to return to the carrier. The remainder flew on, using the missiles as a shield. The A-76s were next to launch 144 medium missiles and peeled off. The Charybdis launched 120 torpedoes and pulled off to return to base. This left 40 Scyllas to hide in and behind the missile and torpedo cloud boring in on the K’Rang fleet.
The K’Rang defensive missiles launched, in response to the inbound missiles. It was obvious to Admiral Minacci that there weren’t going to be enough K’Rang defensive missiles. The Scyllas fired off their 48 fast torpedoes and retired back to their base. Minacci watched as intensive fire erupted from the K’Rang fleet.
The defensive missiles reduced the cloud of approaching missiles, but only by a third. None of the fast torpedoes were hit and they bore into the midst of the K’Rang fleet. The remaining gun frigate and two destroyers took direct hits. The large antimatter warheads broke the ships’ backs and sent them spinning through the formation.
The remaining missiles and torpedoes caused assorted damage, but none that would disable or destroy a ship. Most of the damage appeared to knock out several of the gun mounts on the remaining K’Rang destroyers. The heavy cruiser was left with only one turret operational.
Admiral Minacci ordered in what he hoped would be the killing stroke. His two plasma frigates, the two assault landing carriers, and his flagship popped out from behind Barataria and fired all their anti-ship missiles at the K’Rang heavy cruiser. They opened up with their plasma cannons at the remainder of the fleet, concentrating all their fire on one ship at a time. If it was to be a slugfest, it would be at his instigation.
